3rd Nine Weeks Earth Science Review Answers

Fossils/Geologic Time
1. Be able to read tables/graphs and interpret information about timelines, fossils, etc.
2. What type of rocks are fossils found in? Sedimentary Rocks
3. Be able to place layers in order from oldest to youngest according to relative time. Law
of Superposition says oldest rocks will be on the bottom. Law of Inclusions says oldest rocks
will be fragments inside younger rocks. Cross-Cutting Principle says igneous intrusions will be
younger.
4. What type of rock would be made from other pieces or rocks or have embedded
fragments in it? Sedimentary Rocks- Clastic Rocks
5. What type of rocks make up an intrusion? Igneous Rocks.
6. Does radioactive decay of material give you a relative or absolute date? Absolute Date,
radioactive isotopes decay at a steady rate.
7. Which region(s) of VA can fossils be found in? Coastal Plain (layers of deposited
sedimentary rocks), Valley & Ridge (marine fossils in
limestone), Appalachian Plateau (horizontal layers of
sedimentary rocks, plants).
8. Place the following terms in the proper order
from largest to smallest: period, era, eon, epoch. Eon,
era, period, epoch.
9. List three eras found on a geologic time scale.
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic.
10. Explain how a fossil forms. An animal dies, the
body is quickly buried by sediment, the surrounding
sediments become sedimentary rock, mineral rich water
seeps into the remaining hard structures of the body
turning them to fossils, the rocks and fossils are
uplifted, exposed by weathering, and discovered.

Weather/Air Pressure
1. What happens to air pressure as you go up in
altitude? Air pressure decreases as you increase in altitude. This is because there are fewer
air molecules to exert a force on an object higher up in the atmosphere.

2. How do weather patterns generally move in the US? Weather moves from the West
Coast to the East Coast following the winds (Jet Stream).

3. Be able to calculate wind speed based on

a feathers on a station model. The line points in
the direction the wind is blowing from. Each full
feather marks 10 knots, each half feather marks
5 knots. (FYI 10 knots = 11.5 mph)

4. Be able to predict weather based on

fronts and highs/lows pressure.
High pressure

Clear, sunny day

Warm Front
Mild weather
Low Pressure

Rain, cloudy, stormy weather

Cold Front

Sever weather, rain, drastic temperature changes

Stationary Front
Weather sticks around for days

L
_____

Occluded Front

Some precipitation before drying of air mass.

_________________________

5. Define the following terms: Isobars, fronts, isotherms.

Isobar

Line connecting areas of equal air pressure on a weather map

Front

Boundaries between air masses of different temperatures

Isotherm

Line connecting areas of equal temperature on a weather map

6. Be able to label breezes and sea breezes on a diagram.

7. What does a L and a H on a weather map indicate? L indicates an area of Low Air
Pressure and stormy weather. H indicates an area of High Pressure and clear weather.
8. Why do hurricanes originate in warm waters? Hurricanes form over warm water
because they get their energy from the condensation of warm moist water. Hot water gives
storms energy. Cold dry areas take their strength away.

Atmosphere and Water in the Atmosphere

1. Explain the rain shadow effect - what happens on the windward side and leeward sides
of the mountain? Warm moist air runs into the windward side of the mountain and begins to
rise, it cools to its dew point, condenses and begins to rain. Once going over the mountain, the
air has lost all its humidity and water vapor so the leeward side of the mountain is a desert
because there is no water left for rain.

2. Explain how convection moves heat in the atmosphere. Convection is the movement of
fluids of different densities. Warm air in the atmosphere rises, as it cools, the cold air sinks
again.
3. Explain how fog can form near water. In the late summer, cool air sinks and meets moist
air above the river, the water vapor condenses into fog.
4. What gas did cyanobacteria release into the atmosphere? Oxygen from photosynthesis,
this increased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere to 21%.
5. What is the main cause of oxygen in our atmosphere? Photosynthesis from plants and
algae. The first oxygen came from early plants like cyanobacteria in the ocean.
6. Be able to place the layers of
the atmosphere in the correct order.
Thermosphere

Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
7. What does ozone protect us
from? Ozone absorbs harmful UV
solar radiation and also absorbs heat energy to keep the Earth warm enough for life.
8. Why are cloudy nights warmer than clear nights? The clouds trap in heat radiating out
from the ground at night, just like a blanket on your bed traps in your body heat.

Groundwater
1. What zone would a well need to be
dug into in order to be successful in
reaching water? A well needs to in the
zone of saturation, but not all the way
down into the impermeable bedrock.

2. Be able to distinguish between

which rocks would have the greatest permeability.
Low Permeability

High Permeability

Clay
Granite
Young Limestone

Gravel
Sandstone
Highly fractured rocks

3. Define porosity and permeability.

Porosity

The percent of a
substance that is open
pore space available for
water. i.e. 25%

The rate at which water

Permeability can move through a
substance

4. Place the following zones in the correct order: water table, zone of saturation and zone
of aeration. Zone of aeration, water table, zone of saturation (going from the surface down)

Review

1. What happens to copper when it oxidizes? Copper oxidizes and turns to a dull bluegreen color (like the Statue of Liberty). This can happen because of acid rain.
2. Be able to label the 3 major watersheds in VA. Chesapeake Bay (where we live), Gulf of
Mexico, Carolina Sounds/Outer Banks.

3. What is an independent variable and dependent variable? How many variables should
be changed in an experiment?
Independent Variable
(IV)

The thing that I change in an experiment. What I think will cause a

change in my experiment. Shown on the X-Axis on a graph. For
example, different types of plant fertilizers.

Dependent Variable
(DV)

The Data you measure in an experiment. What you are interested in

learning more about. Shown on the Y-Axis on a graph. For example,
growth rate of plants.

During an Experiment...

You should only test ONE variable. For example, if you want to test how
different brands of fertilizer (IV) change plant growth rates (DV) you
should make sure all the plants get the same amount of light, water, etc.

4. Explain the difference between latitude and longitude using cardinal directions. Latitude
measures North and South of the Equator. Longitude measures East and West of the Prime
Meridian.

5. List renewable resources and nonrenewable resources - list disadvantages/advantage

of each.

Renewable
Resource

Resource Type

Definition

Positives/Negatives

Solar Power

Using suns radiation to

create energy. Ex. solar
panels or passive solar
heating.

Hydroelectric Power

Using power of falling

water to turn turbines. Ex.
hydroelectric dams

+ No pollution
- Dams hurt rivers
- Doesnt work during
droughts
- Expensive

Biomass Energy

Burning wood, plants, or

trash to create energy.

+ Reuses waste
- Can release carbon
dioxide

Geothermal Energy

Heating water using

underground heat to
create energy.

+ Uses Earths natural heat

- Expensive
- Only works in certain
areas

Wind Energy

Using wind to turn

turbines.

+ A lot of places have wind

- Can disturb animals
- Some think ugly

Oil

Petroleum from ancient

marine plants/animals
that we use to make gas.

+ Cheap
- Lots of pollution
- We are running out
- Dangerous to move

+ Pollution Free
+ Unlimited Source
- Needs clear sunny days
- Can kill birds

NonRenewable
Resources

Coal

Sedimentary rock made

from ancient plants.

+ Cheap
- Lots of pollution
- Dangerous mining

Natural Gas

A gas made from ancient

marine plants that we can
burn.

+ Cheap
- Lots of pollution
- Dangerous to move/mine

Nuclear Energy

Using radioactive decay

to heat water and make
energy.

+ Little pollution
- Waste lasts for centuries
- Dangerous if something
goes wrong
- Expensive